An alluring mix of Ottoman traditionalism, Slavic boisterousness, Montenegrin pride and warming Adriatic temperatures, the city of Podgorica comes complete with the promise of bustling café culture, artistic indulgence and loads of historic immersion.

The centre is a patchwork quilt formed by the historic Turkish town of Stara Varoš, where whitewashed Ottoman mosques rise suddenly from the corners of winding roadways, the meandering Ribnica River and a bustling new town. The Nova Varoš spans out along the humming shopping street of Hercegovačka and bubbling Republic Square, and is also the nerve centre of the city’s happening weekend nightlife scene. While exploring the various districts, be sure to have your Podgorica tour guide at hand to point out the mix of hotspots; from the modernist rises of the Millennium Bridge, to the onetime regal home of the nation’s royal family, King Nikola's Palace. And when you’re done touring, perhaps it’s time to break out to the Adriatic beaches at nearby Bar, to survey the national park surrounding the Skadar Lake, or to explore the old monasteries on the Moraca River just to the north.